Stories differ on incident that led to stabbing in Port Hadlock

PORT HADLOCK — Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies have heard two different sides about an alleged attempted break-in on Eugene Street late Friday night.

Sides agree that Andrew Gaikowski, 19, was chased out of a yard belonging to Geoffrey Cross, 29, for several blocks when the two began fighting and Cross stabbed Gaikowski severely enough for him to be taken to a Seattle hospital.

At the time, Gaikowski had been out of jail for one week because of previous burglary charges.

Cross told police that he arrived home to see Gaikowski attempting to break into his back door and chased him out of the yard.

Gaikowski said he was just cutting through the yard and was chased for no reason.

Gaikowski, who was released from the hospital Sunday, made an appointment with Jefferson County deputies on Monday afternoon to press charges against Cross.

Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole took Gaikowski’s statement but then placed him under arrest for a drug court violation obtained in a separate warrant.

Nole said charges have not been filed against Cross.

Nole said Cross was “pretty shaken up” about the incident.

Gaikowski was last arrested April 1 during an alleged burglary at 794 Parkridge Drive in Port Hadlock.

After his arrest, Port Townsend police officers said they found evidence tying Gaikowski to a break-in Jan. 27 at 156 Price St., Port Townsend, one of 39 reported in the city since Dec. 1.

Gaikowski was arraigned for the Port Hadlock burglary and pleaded not guilty.

The charges were dropped for the Port Townsend burglary.

Gaikowski was released from the Jefferson County jail on June 18 in connection to these charges, according to corrections officials.

Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green said that burglaries decreased in May with only two, but the number rose again with seven so far in June.

“I’d like to think that our message about security got out to the public, and people started being more security-conscious,” Green said.

“But as the weather gets warmer, more people are leaving their windows open.”

Gaikowski is being held without bail in the jail.

Nole said Gaikowski will be charged with attempted burglary by the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this morning.

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